Method and apparatus to draw off a fold of welt fabric



Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29,1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

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METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A. FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Filed May 29,1956 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OFWELT FABRIC Filed May 29, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 30, 1958 A. J.COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May29, 1956 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 a g Z N xxx NAN \QW Sept. 30, 1958 A. J.COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Filed May 29,1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 f r 7 #5 Z35 INVEIAITOR. A A9 1 2/0 A BY #45 M n/1 M? .16 M; I fly 2*? if! Sept. 30, 1958 A. J. COBERT 2,853,863

METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC Filed May 29,1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A MZ INVEN fizz hr [Z2252 BYW M Sept 3Q, 1958 A.J. COBERT METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW oFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC FiledMay 29,1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN TOR.

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ept. 30, 1958 METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD OF WELT FABRIC 8Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 29, 1956 United States Patent METHOD ANDAPPARATUS TO DRAW OFF A FOLD 0F WELT FABRIC Arthur J. Cobert,Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor of fifty percent to Beautiful Bryans,Incorporated, Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee ApplicationMay 29, 1956, Serial No. 588,157

16 Claims. (Cl. 66-96) The present invention relates to an improvedfabric take-up and method for a flat full-fashioned type knittingmachine, and more particularly to an improved fabric take-up mechanismand method of operating the same to form and to draw off from theneedles a fold of welt fabric.

The take-up mechanism herein disclosed as embodying in a preferred formthe several features of the invention is of the general type shown in myco-pending application for Letters Patent in the United States PatentOtfice. Serial No. 294,804, filed June 21, 1952, for Automatic WeltTurning Mechanism for Straight Bar Knitting Machines which comprisesgenerally a device for inserting and for drawing off a welt wire fromthe needles to form a fold of welt fabric, and for thereaftertransferring the fabric take-up function to a nip roller take-up whilethe welt wire is withdrawn from engagement with the fabric and isreturned to its initial starting position.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved welt wire take-up of this general description including a novelform of welt wire and novel supporting and actuating means forpositioning the welt wire in operative position and for subsequentlywithdrawing the welt wire from engagement with the fabric to its initialinoperative position.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide in a flatcotton type knitting machine a readily flexible or pliable welt wiretogether with means for supporting the welt wire in an extended fabrictake-up position for moving the welt wire while so extended in adraw-off direction, and thereafter for withdrawing the welt wire fromthe fabric fold.

With these and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, theseveral features of the invention consist in devices, combinations andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed which, togetherwith the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understoodby one skilled in the art from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a straight bar knittingmachine adapted for the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery, showingparticularly one of the supporting frames and the various shaft centers,and more particularly the fabric take-up mechanism which forms morespecifically the subject matter of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation illustrating generally the mechanismshown in Fig. l, and including two adjacent knitting sections of themachine with their adjacent supporting frames;

Fig. 3 is an isometric exploded view of the nip roller take-up mechanismof the machine;

Fig. 4 is an isometric exploded view particularly of the cable welt wiretake-up mechanism of themachine;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view in left side elevationillustrating the supporting structure for the hang- 2,853,863 PatentedSept. 30, 1958 v shafts 174 and 268 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the hanging welt wire supportingarms shown in Fig. 5 and shows in addition the welt cable resetmechanism during the operation of resetting the cable welt wire in itsoperating position;

Fig. 8 is an exploded detail in perspective of the cable welt wireholding latch mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan View of the Bowden wire and cable andchain connections for operating the cable welt wire reset mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of certain of theconnections for driving the cable reset mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a further detail of these connections taken on a line 1111 ofFig. 10.

The straight bar knitting machine which is generally illustrated in thedrawings as embodying in .a preferred form the several features of myinvention is a so-called cotton type full-fashioned hosiery machinehaving a series of spring beard needles 20 movable as a unit, yarnmeasuring sinkers 22 adapted to be moved successively in a knitting waveby means of a slur cock 24 for sinking yarn successively about theshanks of the needles 20, and a series of web holders or knock-overbits, not here specifically shown.

The machine is further provided with a narrowing machine including theusual narrowing machine frame bar 26, and forwardly extending rocker armsupports 28 from which are supported narrowing fingers 30. The supporting structure for the machine includes cross frames 34 spaced one toeach two sections of the machine, and longitudinally extending framemembers including a rear tie rod 36, a lower front frame member 38 and asinker support bar 40.

There is also shown in the illustrated machine a. series of overheadframe supports 44, which are mounted as upward extensions of respectiveframe members 34 and provide support for an overhead welt mechanismincluding a series of hanging Welt bar support levers having mountedthereon welt hook bars adapted to be manipulated with relation to theknitting instrumentalities for setting up, drawing off, and subsequentlyin cooperation with transfer elements, for returning an initial courseof welt loops to the needles to close the welt. as the'welt mechanismreferred to forms no part of this invention and is fully described inapplicants co-pending application, above referred to, no particulardescription or illustration thereof is made in this' application.

In the illustrated form of the invention shown a nip roller take-up isprovided to engage with the fold of welt fabric produced as above setforth by the operation of the welt bar and the welt wire take-uphereinafter to be described.

The nip roller is particularly adapted to take over from the welt wiretake-up the function of drawing off the knitted fabric as it isproduced, said draw-off action being continued until the stocking blankis fully knitted and is finally pressed off of the needles. As bestshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the nip roller take-upcomprises a pair of upwardly extending nip roller support levers 46, 48pivotally supported at their lower ends by means of bearing pins onbrackets 50 and 52 which are mounted from the lower front rail 38. Attheir upper ends each of the lever arms 46 and 48 is journaled toreceive a rotatable shaft 54 on which is mounted a lower nip roller 56.The lever arms 46 and 48 are securely tied together by means of aconnecting rod 58 which also provides a pivotal sup- Inasmuch port fortwo short lever arms 59 and 60 which, at their outer ends, have securedthereto a connecting rod 62. An upper nip roller 64 is mounted to turnfreely on the rod 62. Tension springs 66 connected respectively betweenthe short lever arm 59 and lever support 58 between the arm 60 and lever46 act to maintain the nip rollers yieldably in contact with oneanother. Each of the nip rollers 56 and 64 is made of any simplematerial as, for example, hollow plastic tubes which are covered with alayer of sponge rubber and provided with a knitted cotton cover. Thetubes are preferably constructed with aluminum flanges at each end whichare cut out to provide bearing surfaces for supporting and rotating therollers on respective shafts 62 and 54. The lower roller 56 is connectedto its shaft 54 by means of a torsion spring 68 which, while connectingthe roll to turn the shaft, permits the roll to vibrate with eachsuccessive forward and back movement of the needles in the knitting ofsuccessive courses.

Mechanism is provided for imparting a stepped rotational movement to theroller 56 which comprises the ratchet 70 mounted on the shaft 54 and acooperating pawl 72 carried on the upwardly extending arm of a T-shapedpawl lever 74 loosely supported to turn on shaft 54. A lock pawl 75prevents movement of the ratchet 70 in a reverse direction. The pawl 74receives its motion through a flexible cable 76 and lever arm 78 securedto the usual regulator shaft 80 of the machine. The regulator shaft 86is connected to be oscillated with each rotation of the main cam shaftof the machine indicated at 82 (Fig. 1) in order to control the forwardand back position of the needles during one portion of eachstitch-forming cycle, and it is this oscillatory movement which isapplied to effect a stepped advancing movement of the pawl 72 andratchet 70 to advance the nip roller 56 during the knitting of eachsuccessive course. The arrangement of the mechanism for imparting astepped drawing off movement to the nip rollers 46 and 56 abovedescribed including the Bowden wire connection 76 permits the continuedrotation of the rollers for any position of the levers 46, 43, and niprollers similarly mounted thereon between the innermost position shownin Fig. 1 and the outermost position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The Bowden wire 76 and pawl lever 74 are so arranged that the pawl 72 ismoved positively away from the ratchet 7 by a downward movement of thelever arm 78 and is then allowed to return by spring pressure as theBowden wire 76 is slackened by the return movement of lever arm 78.Advancing movement of the pawl 72 is effected by means of a spring 86connected between a forwardly extending arm of the pawl lever 74 and alever 88 pivoted at 90 on nip roller support lever 46. The takeuptension exerted upon the fabric, and also the extent of each successiveincrement of take-up is thus controlled by the tension of spring 86 andis at the same time automatically adjusted in accordance with the lengthof fabric knitted.

With the illustrated construction I provide an improved mechanism forvarying automatically the amount of tension exerted upon the fabric bythe spring 86 during the knitting of dilferent portions of the stockingblank. In general, a heavy tension is applied during the knitting of thewide upper leg portions and a gradually reduced tension is applied asthe fabric is narrowed toward the heel and foot. The mechanism provided(see Fig. 3) consists of cam and follower connections mounted on a fixedportion of the machine for controlling the angular position of lever 88on the nip roller support lever 46 and thereby the tension exerted byspring 86. The lever 88 is connected with a tension pull rod 92, whichextends longitudinally of the machine near the rear rail 36, by means ofa Bowden wire 84 connected at one end to the tension control lever 88and at its other end to a collar 96 on the tension pull rod 92.

The position of the tension pull rod 92 (see Fig. 3) is in turncontrolled by means of a cam 98 supported to turn on a fixed pivot 100on the machine. A depending cam follower lever 102 mounted to turn on afixed pivot 104 and provided with a cam follower roll 106 is engaged atits lower end between two collars 108 fixed for the tension pull rod 92which is thus controlled by the cam 98. A spring 110 acting against thepull rod 92 serves to maintain the follower roll 106 at all times inengagement with the cam 98. The angular position of cam 98 is controlledby means of connections which are responsive to movement of the yarncarrier stops in accordance with the width of fabric being knitted. Apinion 112 secured to the cam 1110 engages a rack 114 which forms partof a slide rod 116 connected by means of a lever 118 with one of thecarrier dead stop blocks 120 of the carrier stop control mechanism ofthe machine.

The nip roller assembly, including the nip roller support levers 46, 48and nip rollers 56, 64, is moved between a normal take-up position shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1 withdrawn from the needles, and a rearwardcloseto-the-needles position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 for engagingthe fold of welt fabric drawn off by the welt wire take-up. The niproller take-up assembly is moved positively rearwardly to the full lineposition of Fig. 1 in which the nip take-up rollers 56, 64 (Fig. 3) aremoved to a position adjacent their needles by means of a cable 124(Fig. 1) connected with a nip take-up lever 48 by means of a tensionspring 126 connected between the cable wire and a horizontally disposedarm 128. At its rear end the cable 124is fixed to a pulley 130 securedto a shaft 132 which also has secured thereon one element of a magneticclutch 134. The other element of the clutch having secured thereto asprocket, not specifically illustrated, is adapted to receive a sprocketchain 138 which also passes around the sprocket 140 secured to atransmission shaft 142 extending along the rear side of the machine. Theshaft 142 is driven from an electric motor 144 by means of a sprocketchain 146 which passes around sprockets on the armature shaft of themotor and on the transmission shaft 142. When the magnetic clutch isenergized by means not specifically shown the cable wire 124 is woundonto its sprocket 130 causing the nip roller assembly to be drawnrearwardIy to its extreme rearward position in which a latch 148 engagesin a notch lock dial 150 to lock the assembly in this position. Anadjustable stop 152 (Fig. 3) is arranged to engage an upper portion oflever arm 46 for the rearward position of the nip roller take-upassembly to more rigidly hold the frame members including levers 46 and48 in position as the latch 148 drops into its locking position. In theengagement of the notch lock dial 150, the limit switch 154 thus opensthe clutch 134 thus preventing any further movement upon the cable wire124.

In the operation of the machine the magnetic clutch 150 is energized atsome point prior to the beginning of the take-up operation to move thenip roller take-up assembly to its rearward full-line position shown inFig. 1. After a fold of welt fabric has been formed and has been drawnbetween nip rollers, and after an additional five or six inches offabric has been knitted to avoid any possibility that the fabric may bepulled out from between the nip rollers the latch 148 is automaticallywithdrawn from the lock dial 150 thus permitting the nip rollersupporting assembly to fall outwardly under the influence of its ownweight, further assisted by the pressure of spring 126 so that theentire assembly hangs upon the fabric. As additional fabric is knittedthe nip roller support levers 46, 48 swing outwardly until the assemblyreaches the dotted line position of Fig. 1 in which the nip rollersupport lever 46 engages against a fixed stop 158 on the machine.

In accordance with the invention I provide a novel welt wire take-updevice which operates in a novel manner to engage with and draw a foldof welt fabric be tween the two rollers of the nip roller take-up andwhich is thereafter automatically withdrawn and returned toa tensions 44of the machine.

storage position in the machine preparatory for a start of another weltknitting operation, the drawing off of the fabric being continued solelyby the operation of the nip roller take-up. The Welt wire take-up,referred to, comprises a pair of hanging welt wire supporting arms 160,162 secured at their upper ends to a tube 164 which is in turn rotatablysupported on two horizontally disposed support arms 166, 168, which attheir rear ends are freely and pivotally mounted on sleeve bushings 170,172 supported on a rock shaft 174 which extends along the length of themachine and which is rotatably supported in bearings formed in theseveral upper bracket ex- The horizontal support arms 166, 168 arefurther tied together to move as a single rigid unit by means of a crossmember 176. In order to further increase the rigidity of the assemblythe support arms 166, 168 are further tied together at their forwardends by means of a cross shaft 178 which also provides a bearing supportfor the sleeve 164 and hanging welt wire supporting arms 160, 162 whichare in turn tied together toward their lower ends by means of a strap180. The main support shaft 174 has secured thereto an upwardlyextending lever 182 which is connected at its upper end with a forwardlyextending push rod 184 connected at its forward end with an upwardlyextending arm 186 rigidly secured to sleeve 164.

The arrangement above described is such as to permit the use of separatecontrol devices for rocking the horizontally disposed lever arms 166,168 to move the welt wire and .the support arms vertically, and forrocking the hanging weltwire supporting arms 160, 162 forward and back.The mechanism for moving the hanging welt wire supporting arms 160, 162vertically comprises a sprocket chain 190 which passes'around a sprocket192 fixed to the arm 166 coaxially with its pivotal axis and around asprocket 194 mounted on an auxiliary transmission shaft 196. A magneticclutch 198 mounted on the auxiliary transmission shaft 196 provides anelectrically controlled connection between the sprocket 194 and theauxiliary transmission shaft 196. The auxiliary shaft 196 is connectedby a sprocket 200 and chain 202 with the transmission shaft 142 (Fig. 1)driven from motor 144. For controlling the angular positions of supportarms 166, 168 there is also provided a lock dial 204 which is fixed tothe arm 166 coaxially with its pivotal axis. The dial 204 has cuttherein a plurality of square notches which are adapted to engage alatch pawl 206 for certain predetermined positions of the arms 166, 168.The pawl 206 is actuated by means of a solenoid 208 and a connectingcable 210. A limitswitch 212 arranged to contact the pawl 206 only whenin its latching position provides a means for indicating when the pawlis engaged.

The assembly, in its storge position, will be disposed somewhat high.The view in Fig. 1 shows the assembly in the down, or operativeposition. When in the upper position, as in Fig. 5, the arms 166 and 168form a rather sharp angle. The latch 206, Fig. 4, will hold the assemblyfrom movement, locking it firmly in this position. In order to reducethe weight of the assembly, counter-balancing springs 213 and 214 areattached to the ends of the arms 166 and 168, and the other ends of thesprings are fixed to the frame of the machine, downwardly. The tensionof the springs is adjusted to overcome most, but not all, of the weightof the assembly,

so that it is relatively easy to raise the assembly with a smallmagnetic clutch, and, at the same time, leave enough weight to insurethe assembly remaining down, firmly,

without the aid of the latching arrangement.

When it is desired to move the assembly downward to its operativeposition, the clutch 198 is energized, simultaneously with the closingof the solenoid 208. This is accomplished from a signal on the maincontrol panel, or pattern card, at the time when the assembly is to beplaced in operation. This action will also start the motor 142, in thedesired direction and cause the assembly to lower. A ratiomotor, with aseries of reductions through the countershafts, will impart the correctspeed to the assembly. It can be moved rather slowly, since the movementis accomplished while the machine is knitting, and the motion down canbe started prior to the time necessary for placing the assembly on thefabric. The exact timing is not critical. The arm 166 will strike anabutment 216 (see Fig. .4), when the assembly has reached its lowestpoint, and, at the same time, close a limit switch 218, which releasesthe magnetic clutch and stops the motor. It is not necessary that thelatch 206 fall into a notch of the lock dial since the assembly isresting on the abutment 216.

When it is desired to raise the assembly another signal from the maincontrol pattern will set up a new circuit for retracting the assembly.First, the limit switch 218 must be shunted out, then the motor switchmust be reversed, and then the clutch 198 will close. This last actionwill start the motor 142, and the assembly will start to rise. When itreaches its highest position, latch 206 will fall into a notch, and, atthe same time, operate limit switch 212 which will release the clutch,and stop the motor.

The mechanism for rocking the hanging welt wire supporting arms 160, 162forward and back includes the push rod 184 above described, connected atone end to an upward extension 186 of rod 160 and at its rear end to alever arm 182 rigidly secured to rock shaft 174. Automaticallycontrolled mechanism is provided for controlling the angular position ofrock shaft 174 to impart desired forward and back rocking movements tothe hanging welt wire supporting arms 160, 172. This mechanism comprisesa sprocket 222 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 174 and connected by asprocket chain 224 with a sprocket 226 loose on the auxiliarytransmission shaft 196. The sprocket 226 is arranged to be operativelyconnected with the auxiliary transmission shaft 196 by means of amagnetic clutch, generally designated at 228, having one element securedto the sprocket 226 and the other element to the transmission shaft 196.For locking the hanging arms 160, 162 and associated parts in one ormore predetermined angular positions there is also provided on the rockshaft 174 a lock dial 230 having formed therein a plurality of notchesarranged to be engaged by a lock pawl 232 pivoted at 234 on the machineframe. The position of the lock pawl 232 is controlled by a solenoid 236and a connecting cable 238. There is also provided a limit switch 240having a contact which engages the lock pawl 232. The limit switch 240is arranged to be closed when the lock pawl is in its engaged position.It will be understood that the electrical connections for controllingthe operation of the lock pawl 232 and lock dial 230 by which theforward and back position of thewelt wire are controlled are similar tothose previously described for controlling the operation of lock pawl206 and lock dial 204 by which the vertical position of the welt wireassembly is controlled.

Associated with the operating connections above described is atensioning spring 242 which is connected at one end to an upwardextension of hanging arm 162 and at its other end is hooked to a stud244 on the arm 168. The purpose of the spring 242 is in general to biasthe welt cable outwardly so that it will be held in the variouspositions required and also to impart the required tension to the weltcable and folded welt fabric engaged thereby during the welt knittingoperation.

The welt wire provided in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a cable 250 which consists of a length of flexible braidedsteel wire with a molded nylon coating for smoothness. Attached to thefree end of the cable welt wire 250 is a steel button 252, bullet-shapedat its outer end and having a circumferential groove 264.

The button is further provided with an axial hole to receive the end ofthe cable welt wire 250 which is soldered therein. The nylon coatingreferred to is extended over the button252 forming a smooth exterior ofthe tip end of the cable. The bare end of the cable 250 passes through acurved steel tube 256 (Figs. 4 and 7) and is attached by means of acoupling 258 to the end of a steel wire 260. The wire 260 extendsupwardly into a spring sheath 262 fastened at 264 to the hanging weltwire cable supporting arm 162. The wire 260 which together with itssheath 262 forms a Bowden wire extends upwardly the length of thehanging arm 162, and then rearwardly along the horizontally disposed arm168, being at its rear end attached to a pulley 266 fixed to a weltcable retracting shaft 268. The shaft 268 and pulley 266 are rotated toretract the Bowden wire 260 and cable welt wire 250 by means ofconnections which include a sprocket 270 on shaft 268, a sprocket chain272, and a sprocket 274 on the upper auxiliary transmission shaft 276 ofthe machine. The sprocket 274 is connected with shaft 276 by means of amagnetic clutch 278, one element of which is secured to the sprocket 274and the other element of which is secured to the transmission shaft 276.Auxiliary transmission shaft 276 is connected with the main drive shaft142 by means of a sprocket 280, sprocket chain 282 and a sprocket notspecifically shown on shaft 142. When the main driving motor 144 isturning, and clutch 278 is energized, shaft 268 and pulley 266 will berotated to withdraw the Bowden wire 260 and the cable welt wire 250therewith.

The cable welt wire 250 is supported in its extended operative positionstretched between the lower ends of the two hanging welt wire cablesupporting arms 160, 162 by means of a latch holder 282 mounted on thearm 160, consisting of an aperture 284 formed in the lower end ofhanging arm 160 of a size to receive the button 252, and a latch 286vertically shiftable on the hanging arm 160 and provided with an edge288 adapted for a downward position of the latch 286 for engagement withthe groove 254 in the button 252 to latch the button end of the cablewelt wire 250 to the hanging arm 160. The latch 286 is supported forvertical sliding movement in two pins which extend through slots in thelatch and is urged yieldingly downwardly to latching position by meansof a tension spring 290 connected between 3. lug on the latch and a pinon the arm 160. The latch 286 is released by means of a Bowden wire 291connected to the latch, extending upwardly along arm 160, rearwardly onarm 166, and at its upper end secured to the armature of a solenoid 292secured to the frame of the machine. When the solenoid is energized inresponse to a signal from the main control card of the centralelectrical control mechanism it will pull the latch 286 causing the weltcable to release from the holder 282.

The degree of tautness with which the cable welt wire 250 is stretchedbetween the two hanging welt wire supporting arms 160, 162 is controlledby means of an adjustable stop 294 which is adjustably clamped to thesteel wire 260 to be moved into engagement with a guide 296, thuslimiting the downward movement of Wire 260 and the rear end of the cablewelt wire 250- The retracting movement of the wire 260 and cable weltwire 250 under the influence of magnetic clutch 273 and associated partsis controlled by means of a limit switch 298 which is engaged by a clamptype stop 300 adjustably secured to the wire 260 when the cable weltwire has been fully withdrawn. In order to provide a positive check tothe withdrawal movement of the wire 260 the coupling 258 is arranged tobe brought into engagement with the fastening bracket 264 for the fullyretracted position of the wire 260 and cable welt wire 250. A cable weltwire reloading mechanism is provided which acts automatically whenrendered operative to draw the button end of the cable welt wire 250across the width of the knitting section from its withdrawn position 8on the hanging arm 162 to the stretched out position in which the button252 is locked in by the latch on the lower end of the hanging arm 160.The cable welt wire reloading mechanism is supported on the machine tocooperate with the welt Wire assembly when supported in the fullywithdrawn storage position of Fig. 5.

The cable welt wire reloading mechanism comprises a reloading carriage304 which is mounted to slide on two guide rods 306, 308 (see Figs. 1, 2and 4) which are mounted on brackets 310 on the machine above thenarrowing frame so that the reloading carriage 304 will be regulatedwith relation to the lower ends of the hanging arms 160, 162 and weltwire cable 250 supported thereby for the raised storage position of theWelt wire mechanism illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. The reloadingcarriage 384 is provided with a forwardly extending fork 312 which isadapted to fit over the cable welt wire 250, but is of smaller diameterthan the button 252. At that time in the operation of the machine whenthe welt wire support assembly is moved to its raised storage positionthe reloading carriage 304 associated with each knitting section will belocated at the extreme right of its travel. In this position of theparts, the action of raising the welt wire assembly to its storageposition which includes moving the assembly horizontally in a rearwarddirection would place a portion of the welt wire immediately adjacentthe button into the fork 312. A small spring detent 314 mounted in thefork will cause the cable welt wire and button to be retained yieldablyin position in the fork during the subsequent reloading operation,hereinafter to be described.

Movement of the carriage 304 is controlled by means of a reloading cable316 which is in the form of an endless belt, the two ends being securedto opposite sides of the carriage 304. Along the greater portion of itslength the cable 316 is mounted within a sheath 318 fastened at its twoends by brackets 320, 322 (see Fig. 9) which serve as a Bowden wire. Aportion of the length of the wire 316 is, however, replaced by a sectionof the sprocket chain 334 which passes around a driving sprocket 336,and a second idler sprocket 338. As best shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11,driving sprocket 336 is secured to one end of the drive shaft 340 which,at its other end, is connected by two bevel gears 342, 344 with a studshaft 346 which carries a sprocket 348. A sprocket chain 350 passingaround the sprocket 348 and around a sprocket 352 on the upper auxiliarydrive shaft 276 connects the above described driving connections for thecarriage 304 with the auxiliary shaft 276.

A magnetic clutch 354 having one element fast to the sprocket 352 andthe other element fast on the upper auxiliary drive shaft 276 provides aconvenient means for throwing the mechanism for moving the reloadingcarriage 304 into and out of operation.

Movement of the reloading carriage 304 in each direction is limited bymeans of two limit switches 356, 358 which are arranged to be engagedrespectively by two clamp type stops 360, 362 which are adjustablymounted on the cable 316 to throw the limit switches and thereby todeenergize the magnetic clutch 354 when the reloading carriage 304reaches respectively the fully reloaded position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 7, and the fully retracted preloading position at the right handend of its travel adjacent the curved guide pipe 256.

The operation of knitting a stocking blank, including the formation ofthe welt, will be described sufiiciently to show particularly theoperation of the welt cable assembly above described. It is assumed thatthe welt cable assembly is in the upper or storage position of Fig. 5with the cable drawn across the knitting section and locked in the latchholder 282 in its loaded position. The reloading carriage 304 remains atthe end of its travel to the extreme left until after the welt wireassembly is moved away from the storage position to start the nextsucceeding reloading operation.

The knitting of the welt fabric is started on the needles and on aseries of welt hooks which operate in a well known manner to draw offthe fabric as knitted. Inasmuch as the details of the welt mechanism andoperation thereof to form the initial welt setting up course, to form afold of welt fabric, and finally to close the welt have been fullydescribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 294,804, filed June21, 1952 for Automatic Welt Turning Mechanism for Straight Bar KnittingMachines, and form specifically no part of the present invention,specific illustration of the welt forming operation has been omitted. Itwill be understood further that the invention is not limited to anyspecific form of welt mechanism for setting up, forming a fold in, andthereafter for closing the welt portion of the stocking.

After a suitable amount of the welt fabric has been knitted which may bein the order of two inches of such fabric, a signal from the maincontrol pattern of the machine will set up a series of circuits forlowering the welt cable assembly. A first circuit will close the clutch228 which will cause the assembly to be moved outwardly away from itsstorage position, the arms 160, 162 and cable mounted thereon beingswung outwardly in a horizontal direction. The first signal fromthe maincontrol pattern above referred to will also raise the latch 232 so thatthe shaft 174 is free to turn. When the outward position of the cable250 has been reached the latch 232 will drop into another notch of thelock dial 230, and at the same time will actuate limit switch 240 whichcauses clutch 232 to release. Closing of the limit switch 240 sets -inmotion another circuit for lowering the assembly to its operativeposition, the clutch 198 will close, and the direction of rotation ofmotor 144 will be reversed. The latch 206 is pulled out from the notchin the dial 204 so that the horizontally disposed lever arms 166, 168are free to turn. As these arms swing downwardly the entire assembly islowered until the arm 166 comes to rest against the abutment 216. Atthis point, limit switch 218 operates to release the driving clutch 198.The closing of the limit switch 218 is utilized also to close anothercircuit which, as more fully set forth in applicants copendingapplication, above referred to, causes the welt bars to be raised andtilted at an angle of approximately 45. Thereafter, the welt cableassembly is again moved outwardly, that is, in a direction away from theneedles. The movement of the welt bar to the position above referred tomay, for example, be utilized to close another circuit which will againcause latch 232 to be raised and clutch 228 to be energized.

The cable welt wire 250 now tends to move under the welt bars. It willbe understood that positive movement outwardly by the cable welt wire isnecessary only until the last notch in the lock dial 230 has moved awayfrom the latch 232. Thereafter the tensioning action of spring 242 isemployed to force the welt cable against the fabric, and to tension thefabric as it is being knit.

Outward movement of the welt cable and its supporting hanging arms 160,162 will continue until the latch 232 falls into another notch on thelock "dial 230, thus limiting the outward movement of the assembly.Prior to the point at which this limit is reached the welt mechanismwill have functioned to close the welt and the tension feed rollers 54,64 will have been brought into operation to engage and to take-up thefabric. The operation of the nip rollers to engage and take up thefabric while similar to that set forth in applicants copendingapplication may be briefly reviewed as follows:

It is assumed that the roll assembly has been moved inwardly and lockedinto the full line position shown 1n Fig. 1 of the drawings. From asignal on the main control panel the magnetic clutch 134 is energized.The entire nip roller assembly is then drawn rearwardly through actionof the Bowden wire 124 until pawl 148 falls into a notch in lock dial150. This motion operates 10 1 limit switch 154 as above set forth whichreleases a circuit to the clutch and motor. Also at the start of therearward movement of the nip roller assembly a solenoid370 will pull inat a signal from the main control panel and will thus hold the upperroller 64 away from the lower roller 56. It will be understood that asthe nip roller assembly is moved rearwardly the welt cable is holdingthe welt in such a position so fliat the two nip rollers 56, 64 willpass respectively under and over the welt. Just enough of the welt willbe positioned between the rolls 56, 66 to be sure of nipping the fabricproperly. After the rolls have been positioned inwardly in the full lineposition of Fig. 1 the solenoid 370 (Fig. 3) is released permitting theroll 64 to move downwardly to provide a nipping engagement of the weltbetween the rollers 64 and 56. As previously noted the nip rollers arerotated to ensure the continued feed of the welt away from the needlesby the operation of a continuously reciprocated pawl 72 which actsagainst a ratchet 70 mounted on the pivot shaft 54 for roll 56 to effecta stepped rotational movement of the roll 56.

The welt wire cable is now withdrawn from the fabric. The steps by meansof which this is accomplished include the energizing of solenoid 292which raises latch 286 to release the button 252 from the holder 282 onthe hanging arm 160. Assuming that the main driving motor 144 is beingdriven in the correct direction, magnetic clutch 278 is now energized,thus causing pulley 266 to be driven in a direction to retract the cable260 and welt wire 250 to their retracted position as above described.

It will be understood that the welt cable assembly is now raised andthen moved rearwardly to its storage position by means of electricalcircuits which control the operation of the main motor 144, the magneticclutches 198 and 228, above described, and which also effect thesimultaneous withdrawal of the latches 206 and 232 associated with therespective lock values 204 and 230.

Prior to the point at which the welt cable assembly is moved rearwardlyto its storage position the loading magazine 304 is returned to itsstarting position at the extreme right so that the jaws 312 will bebrought into engagement with the end portion of the cable welt wire 250adjacent the abutment 252. This operation is accomplished by means of anelectric circuit which includes the magnetic clutch 354 and by therotation of the main motor 144 in the proper direction. Movement of thereloading carriage 304 to the right is arrested by engagement by lug 360with limit switch 356 which acts to deenergize the clutch 354. Theoperation of reloading the welt wire may be accomplished at anyconvenient time after the cable welt wire assembly has been returned toits storage position by the closing of an electric circuit which willagain include magnetic clutch 354 and motor 144 which is now driven inthe reverse direction so that carriage 304 is driven to the left asshown in Fig. 9 until the button 252 has been brought to the dottedposition shown, for example, in Fig. 7 whereupon movement of thecarriage would be arrested by the engagement of stop 362 with stopswitch 358 to deenergize magnetic clutch 354.

Novel features of the present disclosure which relate to an improved niproller fabric take-up for a knitting machine form the subject matter ofa divisional application Ser. No. 708,071, filed in the United StatesPatent Oflice January 10, 1958 for Fabric Take-Up for a Flat KnittingMachine.

The invention having been described what is claimed 1. In a flatknitting machine adapted for knitting a welted fabric having knittingdevices including a needle series and means for forming and drawing offfrom the needles a folded welt portion of said fabric, the combinationof a pliable welt wire for engagement within said folded welt portion ofthe fabric, and welt wire supports located at each side of said fabricto which the welt wire is secured in a stretched-out position, said weltwire supports being mounted from the machine for movement away from theneedles in a take-up direction as a unit.

2. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting a welted fabrichaving knitting devices including needle series and means for formingand drawing off from the needles a folded welt portion of said fabric,the combination of a pliable welt wire for engagement within said foldedwelt portion of fabric, welt wire supports located at each side of saidfabric to which the welt Wire is secured in a stretched-out position,means connecting said welt wire supports to move as a unit, and meansfor moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from theneedles in a take-up direction.

3. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting a'weltedfabric, a fabric draw-ofi mechanism to draw ofi a fold of welt fabricincluding a pliable welt wire, and supporting members disposed at eachside of said fabric and connected for movement as aunit to which thewelt wire is secured in a stretched-out position, said supporting meansbeing mounted from the machine for movement away from the needles in afabric take-up direction.

4. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting a weltedfabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to draw off a fold of Welt fabricincluding a pliable welt wire,, welt wire support located at each sideof said fabric and connected to move as a unit, mechanism for drawingsaid welt Wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports forattachment thereto in a stretched-out position between said supports,and means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby awayfrom the needles in a take-up direction.

5. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting weltedfabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to draw olf a fold of welt fabricincluding a pliable welt wire, welt wire support located at each side ofsaid'fabric and connected to move as a unit, means for attaching saidwelt wire to said supports in a stretched-out position therebetween,means for moving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away fromthe needles in a takeup direction, and means actuated when renderedoperative for withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from one to theother of said supports.

6. For use in a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting weltedfabric, a fabric draw-off mechanism to position therebetween, means formoving said supports and welt wire supported thereby away from theneedles in a take-up direction, a roller take-up comprising 'a-pa r ofrollers between which the welt fabric is drawn by said welt wire, meansfor actuating said rollers to take up the fabric, and means forWithdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from the rollerengaged weltfabric from one to the other of said supports.

7. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric havingknitting devices including a needle series and means for forming anddrawing off from the needles a fold of welt fabric, the combination of awelt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable weltwire, welt wiresupports located at each side of said fabric and connected to move as aunit, supporting means on the machine on which said welt wire supportsare movable from a withdrawn storage position to engage with and draw afold of welt fabric away from the needles ina take-up direction, a weltwire loading mechanism arranged to cooperate with the Welt wire take-upmechanism in said storage position to engage with and draw the welt wirelongitudinally from one to the other of said supports for attachmentthereto in a stretched-out position between said supports, means formoving said supports and welt Wire supported thereby away from theneedles in a take-up direction, and means actuated when renderedoperative for withdrawing said welt wire longitudinally from one to theother of said supports.

8. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric havingknitting devices including a needle series and means for forming anddrawing off from the needles a fold of Welt fabric, the combination of awelt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire, hanging weltwire supports pivoted above and at each side of the needle series andconnected to move as a unit, horizontally disposed lever arms pivoted onthe machine on which said pivot-s are carried, means for swinging saidlever arms and hanging supports to move a welt wire from a withdrawnstorage position to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away fromthe needles in a take-up direction, guide means on one of said hangingsupports on which the welt wire is movable longitudinally from aretracted position to cause the leading end of the welt wire to beconnected with the other of said supports in a stretched out position, alatch engaging the leading end of said welt wire with said othersupport, means to disengage the latch, and means acting when renderedoperative to withdraw the welt wire longitudinally to said retractedposition on one of said supports.

9. In a fiat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric havingknitting devices including a needle series and means for forming anddrawing off from the needles "a fold of welt fabric, the combination ofawelt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire,

iwelt wire supports located at each side of said fabric and connected tomove as a unit, guide means on one of said supports on which the weltwire is movable longitudinally between a retracted position associatedwith one only of said supports and an advanced stretched-out positionconnected between said supports, supporting means on the machine onwhich said welt wire supports are movable from a withdrawn storageposition to en- .gage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from theneedles in a take-up direction, a welt wire loading mechanism operablefor said storage position of the welt wire mechanism to engage with anddraw the welt wire longitudinally from one to the other of saidsupports, means for attaching the welt wire to said other support in astretched-out position between said supports, means for movingtsaidsupports and welt wire supported thereby away from the needles in atake-up direction, a roller take up comprising a pair of take-up rollersbetween which the welt fabric is drawn by said welt wire, and meansacting when rendered operative to withdraw the welt wire longitudinallyfrom the roller-engaged welt fabric to said retracted position.

10. In a flat knitting machine adapted for knitting welted fabric havingknitting devices including a needle series and means for forming anddrawing off from the needles a fold of welt fabric, the combination of awelt wire take-up mechanism including a pliable welt wire, hanging weltwire supports pivoted above and at each side of the needle series andconnected to move as a unit, horizontally disposed lever arms pivoted onthe machine on which said pivots are carried, means for actuating saidlever arms and hanging supports to move a welt wire from a storageposition to engage with and draw a fold of welt fabric away from theneedles in a take-up direction, guide means on one of said hangingsupports on which the welt wire is movable longitudinally, a welt wireloading mechanism operable for said storage position of the welt Wiretake-up mechanism to engage with-and draw a leading end of the pliablewelt wire longitudinally from one to the other of said supports, a stopdevice on said first support to limit the ad- 13 power driven means towithdraw the welt wire longitudinally from the welt fabric to aretracted position on the said one of said supports.

11. In a flat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, themethod of drawing off a fold of welt fabric from the needles, whichcomprises drawing a pliable welt wire longitudinally from one to theother of a pair of supports spaced from one another at opposite sides ofthe fabric to move as a unit, securing the welt wire to the latter ofsaid supports in a stretched out position between the supports, andmoving said supports and pliable welt wire therewith against the weltfabric to draw off a fold of said welt fabric from the needles.

12. In a flat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, themethod of engaging and withdrawing a welt wire from a fold of weltfabric, which comprises extending a welt wire longitudinally from one tothe other of a pair of supports spaced from one another at oppositesides of the fabric to move as a unit, and securing the welt wire inposition on said supports, moving said supports and welt wire therewithagainst the welt fabric to draw off a fold of said welt fabric from theneedles, releasing the welt wire from one of said supports, andwithdrawing the welt wire from the fold of welt fabric onto the other ofsaid supports.

13. In a flat knitting machine, the method of engaging and withdrawing apliable welt wire from a fold of welt fabric, which comprises locatingwelt wire supports spaced from one another at opposite sides of thefabric at a loading station, extending a welt wire longitudinally fromone to the other of said supports at said loading station, and securingthe welt wire on said supports, moving said supports and welt wireagainst the welt fabric to draw off a fold of welt fabric, and releasingthe welt wire from one support and withdrawing said welt wirelongitudinally from the fold of welt fabric onto the other of saidsupports.

14. In a fiat knitting machine having a series of knitting needles, themethod of engaging against and withdrawing a pliable welt wire from afold of welt fabric,

which comprises extending said pliable welt wire longitudinally from oneto the other of a pair of supports spaced from one another at oppositesides of the fabric to move as a unit, securing the pliable welt wire tothe latter of said supports in a stretched out position between saidsupports, moving said supports and pliable welt wire secured thereto todraw a fold of the welt fabric from the needles between a pair oftake-up rollers, turning said rollers to further draw off the weltfabric from the needles, releasing the pliable welt wire from the latterof said supports, and withdrawing the pliable welt wire longitudinallyfrom the fold of welt fabric onto the other of said supports.

15. In the manufacture of a full-fashioned hose, a method of handlingsaid hose'as it issues from the knitting machine, which comprises,placing a welt wire in the fabric of said hose to form a fold of weltfabric, drawing said hose from the needles of said machine by said weltwire, drawing said fold of welt fabric and said welt wire between rolls,turning said rolls to draw said hose from said machine, and withdrawingsaid welt wire in an endwise direction from said welt as said hose isbeing drawn by said rolls.

16. In a full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting welt fabric, a bedof needles, means for operating said needles to knit loops of knittedfabric, means including a welt wire to engage with and form a fold ofwelt fabric, tensioning means comprising a pair of nip rolls, means foractuating the nip rolls to take up the fabric as knitted, means fordrawing the welt wire and fold of welt fabric therewith through said niprolls, and means for withdrawing said Welt wire in an endwise directionfrom said fold of welt fabric as the fabric is being knitted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

